Reviews of games that focus on gender identity.
Short and straightforward tale of a cis hairdresser trying to be supportive of a trans customer and getting it badly wrong. CW: gender stereotypes, ignorance. 3/5 stars - enjoyable.
Strikingly honest comic about being a trans man, with a lot of coverage of the medical transitioning process. CW for transphobia and sexual entitlement from a past boyfriend of the maker. 4/5 stars - excellent.
Wholesome, affirming comic about realising you're not cisgender. While the maker ended up realising he's a trans man, this still really resonated with me as a non-binary AFAB. 4/5 stars - excellent.
More of a statement of lived experience than a game, but a powerful one. The mechanically-bleak approach taken certainly fits the themes of trans rage and frustration. CW: misgendering. 3/5 stars - enjoyable.
This short Twine story is a thoughtful, well-paced examination of a transgender person's feelings as they perform a ritual to help them battle their dysphoria. It has some beautiful moments, particularly burning the items from the box. And as an added bonus, it also features words specific to the Finnish setting, which you can translate with a click! 4/5 stars - excellent.
Free, thought-provoking short interactive narrative where you play as a therapist with control over whether your patient will be able to transition. Best when played through to both extremes. 4/5 stars - excellent.
A short Twine story that compellingly evokes the everyday struggles of a transmasc person putting on testosterone gel in the morning. Content warnings: dysphoria, self-harm, skin picking. 3/5 stars - enjoyable.
Free, charming short game riffing on Pokémon's unnecessary focus on binary gender. Non-binary POC protagonist. 4/5 stars - excellent.
Free, short game where you play as a trans woman who magically gains the ability to see what other people are thinking on the bus home. Content warning: misgendering (though it's not malicious). 4/5 stars - excellent.
Gorgeously illustrated tabletop roleplaying game for creating stories in the 'magical girls' genre... Or rather, magical heroes, since it's got fantastic gender diversity throughout. It's Powered by the Apocalypse so the 2d6 mechanics look pretty solid and straightforward. There are also variant rules for 'vehicular heroes': think Voltron or Power Rangers. 5/5 stars – outstanding.
A free, very short story with two endings that pack an emotional punch. You play as a non-binary AFAB person on a date with a woman. The writing is painfully true to life - undoubtedly because it's #OwnVoices. Content warning: misgendering. 4/5 stars - excellent.
Brilliant zine exploring masculinities through games. From brilliant concepts for D&D 5e, Monsterhearts and Apocalypse World to fantastic self-contained games, there's something here for everyone. Free community copies available for those who identify as queer or non-cisgender masculine. 5/5 stars - outstanding.
Free, short visual novel which follows on from the events of 'one night, hot springs'. It gradually builds the protagonist's awareness of her trans friend's anxiety (and Japanese society's widespread transphobia) in a way that feels authentic, but may be a little slow-paced for some people. Still, a great choice if you're looking for a cute, relaxing visual novel with hopeful vibes and good representation of a trans woman and wlw affection. 3/5 stars - enjoyable.
